LONGVIEW, Texas -- Baseball's electric factory was operating at full capacity on Tuesday evening as they defeated Vermont State Castleton, 15-7, at Conrad-Vernon Field in Longview.

Austin Wiederhold, Xander Nabors, Hayden Norris, and Zach Zarko all produced multi-hit efforts as the YellowJackets moved to 2-2 on the campaign, while the Spartans dropped to 1-3.

Following an early 2-0 lead for the Spartans, Nabors would bring in the first run for LeTourneau on an RBI double to right field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

After Castleton added three more runs in the second and third innings, it was time for the offense to find its footing again.

They did.

Seven unanswered runs, four in the third inning and three in the fifth inning, gave the YellowJackets a lead they would not relinquish. Norris and Dane Jones collected RBIs in this stretch, with three Spartan errors helping the cause.

Castleton mounted a small rally in the sixth and seventh innings, getting a run in each, but clutch pitching from reliever Zac Schneider kept the Spartan offense from tying the score or taking the lead.

The bottom of the eighth fully decided the matter, as LeTourneau manufactured a seven-run eighth inning to put the game away. Norris started the scoring with an RBI single to left center field, and then Zarko and Jack Kale's two-RBI doubles plus Wiederhold's RBI single would tack on the final touches.

Cruz Cox closed the game in the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out one. Lane Holman (1-0) picked up the win by throwing a key 2.1 scoreless innings in relief, striking out three. 

Spartans designated hitter Justin Strozyk went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk, while Mikey Raby Jr. and Tyler McLain added two-hit efforts as well. Keaton Nann (0-1) received the loss for Castleton. 

UP NEXT

The YellowJackets will play at Conrad-Vernon Field on Friday, facing MUW for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

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